Undertow Opens to Guests at Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk

© Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk

What may be the last of the new for 2013 roller coasters to open, Undertow at Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk is now thrilling guests at the California seaside park.

The ride, which is a Maurer Sohne spinning coaster, was scheduled to open earlier this Summer.  Delays in the construction of the ride, which the park did not elaborate much on, kept the attraction from missing out on the Summer season.  However, the coaster was finally able to open for the final couple weekends of the park's 2013 run.

Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk does not appear to be advertising that Undertow is open, perhaps planning instead to make it the focus of the 2014 season.  The park's website does not reflect the opening, but it certainly was carrying passengers this past weekend.  You can see photos and a video of the ride operating at this link.

Undertow stands 50 feet tall at the maximum height, but its location atop a building makes it more imposing when viewed from the adjacent beach.  The individual, four passenger cars spin freely along the 1,410 feet of track and reach a maximum speed of 40 miles per hour.